A letter to the unknown woman who today (Saturday March 2) in Chepstow near the Dell car park felt it appropriate to interfere with our parenting of our three-year-old son having a tantrum.

It all started over being told he couldn't do something. The inevitable happened and our little boy, who is still learning to balance his emotions, displayed his frustrations in the only way he currently knows how...complete loss of control and a full-blown tantrum which confuses and upsets him greatly.

Not only is it distressing for me as a mother to see this behaviour, not only do I have to quickly assess the danger element, and in this instance, a busy car park on a busy Saturday afternoon, but on this occasion I resorted to sitting on a cold pavement to try and soothe and calm my son.

During this moment, you approach me with advice that is clearly given through your irritation at this public spectacle.

So forgive me for not fully engaging in conversation with you at that time, and now please let me try to address some of your comments made:

You approached me and told me that my son is in distress: I was aware of this and it was why I was sitting on the cold ground holding him close and singing quietly in his ear in an attempt to calm and reassure him. Also to restrain his kicking and punching which was part of this tantrum.

You suggested I let him get up and go: Given the fact we were near a busy car park with distracted drivers going about their Saturday afternoon and a confused and upset little three-year-old, I wasn't about to risk him running off into the busy Dell car park, or in the other direction to an even busier main road.

You suggested that I got up and sat over at the wall with him, out of the way of people: Taking a wriggly child to a wall of greater height com­promised his safety – what if he was to wriggle so much I dropped him?

You told me that my son was going to end up having a fit: I work in the medical field, and while there are many causes of fitting in children, as far as I am aware, being cross and crying is not one of them.

You informed me of how upsetting it is for the public and the shop workers to see my son the way he is: I'm sorry but the only person's feelings I care about, and especially at that moment, are that of my son. It was distressing enough for me seeing him so out of control, so to comfort him and keep him safe during this episode until calm was my priority as his mother. I want my children to feel love and affection from me even in those times.

You stated you would like to call a policeman to come and see to me: I would like to know how holding and cuddling my child requires the involvement of a police officer? Surely the police are too busy dealing with actual crimes, to come and attend to a crying child.

Finally, I'd like to thank you for your concern for my son. I'm sure you'll be glad to hear that a few minutes after you left us to it, he started to regain his composure. We sat and cuddled for a few minutes more once he was calm, and then we walked to the car holding hands and discussing what it was that made him so angry. We went on to discuss what we might all like to have for our lunch.

– A dedicated mum-to-four, Chepstow.